Jamaica, along with two other Caribbean countries, Belize and St. Vincent and the Grenadines became the latest countries to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.

Present in a ceremony on 7^th May, 2024 to mark this incredible achievement were Jamaica’s Health Minister, The Honourable Christopher Tufton and the Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa and members representing UNICEF and UNAIDS.

As reported on PAHO’s website, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa noted “This achievement is a testament to years of dedication, hard work, and collaboration among governments, health professionals, and communities”.

Jamaica is one of 19 countries globally to achieve the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis (EMTCT) and one of 11 in the Americas. 

What is the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Syphilis (EMTCT)?

Since 2010, there has been a global initiative to eliminate the transmission of HIV and syphilis from mother to child which is part of a wider initiative to eliminate the spread of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV across the globe.

The objective of the global initiative is to achieve and sustain the elimination of mother-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, Chagas disease, and perinatal hepatitis B as a public health threat.

In the Americas, Cuba was the first to achieve EMTCT in 2015, followed by Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and St. Kitts and Nevis in 2017.

Jamaica, Belize, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines achieving this status is a great accomplishment and a win for public health and the region.

This global plan of action is not only keeping mothers alive, it is keeping our children alive. They can thrive, become healthy adults, and be protected from diseases that normally impede their normal growth and development.

For more information on this subject, you can check out PAHO and UNICEF.